Button Hoping for Podium Finish at Silverstone

Briton Jenson Button is hoping to score his first podium in Formula One at his home race this weekend at the Silverstone circuit.

"I'm looking forward to Silverstone big style and it will be nice to score my first podium there," said Button. "I want to get as many points as I can and get a podium this season. This is obviously my favourite Grand Prix and it would be good to do it with the fans behind me.

"I don't think we are big enough to qualify third on the grid and get a podium like that. We need to be as close as we can and see what happens in the race."

22-year old Button enjoyed a rise to prominence with Williams in 2000 but struggled last year as the Benetton-Renault team endured a difficult year. He has returned back to form this year with four points finishes in the nine races to date as he attempts to rival McLaren's David Coulthard as top Brit.

But his impressive form has been overshadowed by talk of his future and he has admitted exploring alternative options in case he is forced to leave Renault. Button, however, denied that Renault team boss Flavio Briatore will make a decision on his future simply based on the Briton's performance at Silverstone.

"Wherever I am going to be next year the decision is not going to be made in the next two weeks," he said. "I haven't got a problem with it. There are lots of decisions that have got to be made after Silverstone but that race won't be the final thing.

"I can't see Silverstone being any more important than any other race this season. They are not just going to take how well I have done on Silverstone."

But he added: "I can only do the best I can on the circuit and at the moment I'm not worried were I am going to be next year."

Button held talks with Jaguar before the European Grand Prix and could replace veteran Ulsterman Eddie Irvine if he is dumped by Renault. But the youngster said that he wants to drive for a competitive team at the head of the grid as he looks to fulfil his potential.

Button still believes he can become World Champion one day and even insisted that he would take dramatic pay cuts to drive for one of the top-three teams.

"Everybody looks at money when they look at a job but then you look at how much enjoyment you get out of it as well," he said. "I think being with a top team and getting paid very little compared to a team that's at the back of the field would be better because I want to win races. That's the most important thing."

And when that first podium comes Button believes it will open the floodgates. He finished fifth in his maiden British Grand Prix in 2000 but is ready to go even better and score a dream result on home turf this year to put doubts about his ability to rest.

"It was a nice race to score two points in and finish fifth especially in front of my home crowd," he said. "It probably was the first race that I'd scored points as well so that was special. Hopefully this year it will be better. I'm sure we can do it."